Latest articles from Central & eastern Europe

Russian leader seeks out new frontiers

Russian leader seeks out new frontiers

August 1, 2013

VTB Capital is already established as Russia’s largest investment bank. Bulgarian national Atanas Bostandjiev explains the state-owned bank's plans to expand its activities into new markets.

Consolidation pressure builds for Serbian banks

Consolidation pressure builds for Serbian banks

August 1, 2013

Subdued growth prospects and the uncertain future of some foreign parent banks looks set to impel the Serbian banking sector toward fewer, stronger players.

Daiwa makes US and Europe push

Daiwa makes US and Europe push

August 1, 2013

The first yen issue for Slovakia since 1994, a debut Finnish non-sovereign samurai bond deal and a growing number of dollar mandates are raising the profile of the debt capital markets team at Japan's Daiwa

Andris Vilks

Finance minister brings Latvia in from the cold

July 1, 2013

The Banker’s Finance Minister of the Year for Europe 2013 won his award thanks to a successful and determined fiscal adjustment programme. He explains how moving early is now allowing Latvia to look beyond austerity.

Change of pace: the National Bank of Slovakia (pictured) expects Slovakia’s economic growth to slow in 2013, which will dampen prospects in the banking sector

Slovak banks struggle to maintain success story

July 1, 2013

Slovakia's banks are a rare bright spot in a crisis-strewn eurozone with their strong balance sheets, but they are not immune from falling external demand and tax hikes.

High-frequency trading: a game-changer for markets?

July 1, 2013

High-frequency trading has changed the way equities, and to a lesser extent, other assets, are traded. This makes many involved in trading nervous, and they have every reason to be.

Highest Movers table shows story after China

July 1, 2013

The Highest Movers table of the Top 1000 has had a distinctly Chinese feel to it in recent years, but 2013's ranking shows rapid growth among financial institutions the world over, including in Europe's crisis economies.

Russia leads CEE capital surge

July 1, 2013

The Tier 1 capital of the 25 largest central and eastern European banks climbed by 30% in this year's ranking, led by Russia's largest bank Sberbank. Meanwhile, consumer banking operations across the region are prominent among the most profitable and the fastest growing banks in the region.

Government backs Kazakh capital markets revival

Government backs Kazakh capital markets revival

June 3, 2013

Led by innovative deals from development banks, Kazakh bond markets are enjoying a dynamic spell, but pension reform casts uncertainty over the equity markets.

Never mind the banking union in Europe

May 28, 2013

A European banking union means little unless there is greater consultation on the regulation of cross-border banking groups between home and host nations, and not just in Europe.

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